{"id":71,"date":"2013-06-30T19:31:50","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T02:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/?p=71"},"modified":"2014-07-30T07:51:39","modified_gmt":"2014-07-30T14:51:39","slug":"day-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/day-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"LAtoPismomap2\"<\/a>147 miles<\/p>\n

12:30 pm<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0arrive Pismo Beach, check in\u00a0SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel<\/a>
\nThe drive from the south, mostly inland, reveals blue Pacific only in mini segments until we reach the beach cities. In all there are\u00a0five, delightful little cities clinging to the Pacific\u00a0shoreline.\u00a0We drive through Oceano,\u00a0<\/b>Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Shell Beach, finally Pismo Beach.\u00a0This is classic California with a feel of mid-century America and just minutes from wonderful wine county. A “Wine and Waves” destination.<\/p>\n

SeaCrest, a little north of Pismo’s main area, sits on a high bluff with uninterrupted views of the surrounding beaches. We check into Room 248…a fabulous space, with 180-degree view from the balcony. We can see the Pismo pier and follow the crescent shoreline to Oceano Dunes. Looking the other direction we can see to a distant point – which might be Avila Beach?<\/p>\n

Our spacious room with a sitting area has a cozy corner nook pillowed for reading and windowed for viewing. We unload quickly and hurry back to the lobby for a property tour. The hotel is U shaped; sides of the U are 4 stories high, the long center is 2 stories high. Most rooms have outdoor access or a balcony. Remodeled in the last two years it is well designed for guests to have a great experience. A very safe stairway leads to the beach about 40′ below. Sunsets are always magnificent. Benches set along the bluff edge allow guests to anticipate the sunset in comfort.\u00a0A group of teens grill their lunch at the patio near the pool. They are visitors from New York City, here as a reward for excellent academic achievement.<\/p>\n

1:30 pm\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>lunch\u00a0Fin\u2019s Seafood Restaurant<\/a>
\nWe passed Grover Beachbefore entering Pismo and have come back for the famous dunes and beaches of Oceano. We take a quick look and arrange for a permit to drive on the beach. Because of its convenience (located at the entrance to the Dunes) we lunch at Fin’s Seafood Restaurant. We’re momentarily seized by regret by a life size Captain Hook sculpture greets and kitchy cute dolphin\/surfboard themed booths – \u00a0but food smells good and time is of the essence. Out on the dunes a father and son are kite flying. Pleasant staff delivers our Pismo Clam Chowder, and Fish ‘n’ Chips. Recommend a stop here for quick service, inexpensive and well prepared seafood.<\/p>\n

3 pm\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>drive car on beach tour Oceano Dunes SVRA<\/a>\u00a0State Vehicular Recreation Area
\nPassenger cars can easily\u00a0drive\u00a0on the northern portion of the\u00a0beach. The hard-packed sand easily supports the cars weight. It’s quite a unique experience and the place in California where you can do it. Many family groups come down at the end of the day and set-up to watch the sunset.<\/p>\n

4 pm<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0sightsee\u00a0Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove<\/a>
\nNearby is the famous butterfly grove. Although this is not migration\u00a0season still much to learn about the monarchs from the educational materials. Worth a visit.\u00a0Many well maintained camping and trailer parks surround the dunes and butterfly grove. Seems people come here and stay awhile.<\/p>\n

6 pm<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0sightsee drive through downtown\u00a0Pismo Beach
\n“Historic” Downtown is on the level with the beach. Newer parts of town went uphill and east. Looking back at Pismo from the pier the residential areas looks to be built on two hills.\u00a0Tonight a farmer’s market on the pier has brought lots of action to the area. Artists, craftspeople, entertainers fill the spaces between the local produce and prepared foods.<\/p>\n

Always walk a pier when one is available – that’s our mantra. This one is very long with an unusual shape. It’s the third pier built here – fire destroyed one and a storm the other. The walkway lumber is very thick and weathered….it might be recycled from previous piers. You can cast a line and fish from here or people watch. Below on the sand family groups are beginning to pack up for the day but the surfers aren’t giving up yet.<\/p>\n

Off the beach shops sell every imaginable water toy. Bicycles, peddle carts, surfboards, boogie boards can be rented. Quick foods easily available but the line-up is a the Splash Cafe. Need a bikini? sunscreen? floppy hat?…all here. Hotels, fancy or budget, are available. Easy town to settle into.<\/p>\n

9 pm<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0by dinner\u00a0Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery<\/a>
\nGiven the hour we decide to eat nearest to our hotel. Service is swift. Food OK but not memorable….but they are having a whole pie sale! and we buy one. $5. They pack our cherry pie carefully, include napkins, plates, forks, a knife\/spatula for serving. Back at the hotel we enjoy it.<\/p>\n

stay<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel<\/a>
\nShower and luxuriate in the fluffy white robe while checking out the evening view from the balcony. Mellow temperature, clear sky, lights twinkle.<\/p>\n

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    147 miles 12:30 pm\u00a0arrive Pismo Beach, check in\u00a0SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel The drive from the south, mostly inland, reveals blue Pacific only in mini segments until we reach the beach cities. In all there are\u00a0five, delightful little cities clinging to the Pacific\u00a0shoreline.\u00a0We drive through Oceano,\u00a0Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Shell Beach, finally Pismo Beach.\u00a0This is classic California […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-day-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funoftravel.com\/pismobeach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}